oct 16, 1962 - Cuban Missile Crisis

Description:

This conflict began when the Soviets' leader, Khrushchev, announced his intention to support "wars of national liberation" which included Cuba where Fidel Castro had just overthrown a dictator and declared a revolution. In the months following, it was revealed in a televised address by Kennedy that the Soviet Union had been able to build bases upon Cuba that were capable of launching missiles able to reach the US. There were several that were already installed, but there were also many more on the way. After Kennedy declared a quarantine on all offensive equipment on its way to Cuba, the Soviets eventually turned back and a nuclear war was avoided for another day. With tensions so high for both countries within these few weeks, there was actually a slight warming of relations following due to the fact that everyone was so worried with how close both countries had come to an all out nuclear war. Even so, this was nowhere close to the end of the cold war that would continue on for decades.

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